Saturday, September 22, 2012

I don't know how Scott from Yodle got my cell phone number. I really don't care either. I have a cell phone, it has a number, and that number has been provided to a lot of people. Spending time on worrying about how he got it is for those same people whose heads explode whenever they get an unsolicited email.

So I was driving home yesterday from a meeting in Orlando and a Miami phone number popped up. I answer these unknown calls about 50% of the time, and I figured, why not.

Unfortunately, my answers didn't fit Scott's script:

"Hi is this Brian?

"Yes."

This is Scott from Yodlelaw."

(Smirk, and then...)

Silence

"So Brian, have you heard of us?"

"Yes."

"Well then you know we work with lawyers, including criminal defense lawyers.

"Yes."

"I'd like to know whether you are taking on any new clients?"

"No."

"No? Well, is that because you're filled up and can't take on anymore?"

"Yes."

"So you're not interested in more business right now?"

"No."

"Well, that's great, sounds like you're doing very well. Let me ask you so if someone called you for a DUI case you wouldn't take it right now, you'd refer it to another lawyer?"

"Yes."

"Wow, sounds like you are very successful, is there another practice area you're looking to build where you would be interested in more clients?"

"No."

"So the lawyers you refer cases to, can you give me the name of one of those lawyers?"

"No."

"Brian, it sounds like you're on the road, is there a better time to reach you?"

"No."

"Um, OK, well...thank you for your time."

"OK."

Anonymous comments are welcome as long as they say something relevant and half-way intelligent and arent a vehicle for a coward to attack someone. I trust you understand.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. He is the author of I Got A Bar Complaint.

7 comments:

Kirk
said...

That's the approach I've started to take, too. I tell them I'm covered up and can't possibly take on any new business. Sometimes I ask them if there is any way they can help get lower in the search rankings.